plate no. 8367

Spring Shower

John Steuart Curry, 1931

oilRegionalismlandscapelandscapeskycloudsfieldfarmbuildings

some experience helpful

Recreating this painting will help students develop skills in atmospheric perspective and color mixing to create depth and mood. It also provides practice in rendering textures of fields and foliage with visible brushstrokes.

technical profile

palette complexity

brushwork visibility

value contrast

compositional simplicity

study guide

est. 12 hrs

approach — 8 steps

step 01
Sketch the basic composition, focusing on the horizon line and the placement of major elements like the farm buildings and the road.
step 02
Establish the sky with broad strokes, blending the colors to create a sense of depth and atmosphere.
step 03
Block in the main areas of the landscape, using different shades of green, yellow, and brown to represent the fields and hills.
step 04
Add details to the farm buildings, paying attention to their shapes and proportions.
step 05
Define the road with varying shades of red and brown, creating a sense of perspective as it recedes into the distance.
step 06
Add details to the trees and foliage, using small, broken brushstrokes to create texture.
step 07
Refine the overall composition, adjusting colors and values as needed to create a sense of harmony and balance.
step 08
Add final details, such as highlights and shadows, to enhance the realism of the painting.

color palette

primary · yellow ochre · burnt umber · titanium white

secondary · cadmium red · ultramarine blue · sap green

Mix greens by combining yellow ochre, ultramarine blue, and a touch of burnt umber. Achieve the sky colors by blending titanium white with small amounts of ultramarine blue and burnt umber. The road is a mix of cadmium red and burnt umber.

techniques